For Rush, a Saturday night blockbuster against the Melbourne Tigers lived up to expectations, with the final deficit just four points. 

In front of a vocal Wendouree Sports and Events Centre crowd, Rush jumped out to a four-point quarter-time lead.

A second quarter fadeout with 12 turnovers and poor shooting put the girls well and truly behind the Tigers.

Rush fought their way back into the game with tenacious defence and perimeter shooting, but the early damage was too much to overcome.

Ryleigh Haire, Eliza Roughead and Claire Constable all reached double-digit points. The efforts of Amelia Jarvis, Jessica Tempany and Isabel Fraser were also key in the tight finish.

Likewise, the Miners were unable to string together four quarters of basketball, letting a three-point half-time deficit turn into a 31-point defeat in the double-header with Rush.

Then on Sunday, the Miners fell to Coburg Giants by 16 points on the road. 

But there were some promising efforts. Leo Viitala, James Reeves and Luke Campbell all played quality roles.

The Miners will have less than a fortnight to regroup and refocus before they welcome the Altona Gators to town in a Wednesday night showdown on April 8 at the Wendouree Sports and Events Centre.

BIG V YOUTH LEAGUE

CHAMPIONSHIP WOMEN

MELBOURNE 13 28 43 66

BALLARAT 17 21 40 62

POINTS – Ballarat: R Haire 16, E Roughead 15, C Constable 14, I Fraser 8 (2 three-pointers), O Jones 5 (1), J Tempany 2, C Blower 2.

REBOUNDS – Melbourne 51, Ballarat 50 (Roughead 12, Jarvis 10).

ASSISTS – Melbourne 9, Ballarat 16 (Haire 4).

BLOCKS – Melbourne 5, Ballarat 5.

STEALS – Melbourne 6, Ballarat 6.

TURNOVERS – Melbourne 14, Ballarat 18.

SHOOTING – field goals, Melbourne 28-84 (33.3%), Ballarat 23-72 (31.9%); three-pointers, Melbourne 1-16 (6.3%), Ballarat 3-8 (37.5%); free throws, Melbourne 9-17 (52.9%), Ballarat 13-19 (68.4%).

LADDER: Dandenong 147.93 percentage points, 100.00 percentage won; Melbourne 144.16, 100.00; Ballarat 107.07, 80.00; Eltham 96.50, 33.33; Bendigo 98.47, 25.00; Ringwood 93.33, 25.00; Kilsyth 70.74, 25.00; Waverley 48.81, 0.00.

NEXT GAME: v Waverley, away on April 19.

MEN’S DIVISION ONE

CAMBERWELL 18 50 75 93

BALLARAT 29 47 53 62

POINTS - Ballarat: L Viitala 20 (1 three-pointer), L Campbell 15, J Reeves 8 (1), T Fisher 8 (1), M Harvey 4, D Tilley 3, G Lukich 2, Asiedu 2.

REBOUNDS – Camberwell 50, Ballarat 41 (Campbell 12, Harvey 9, Viitala 7).

ASSISTS – Camberwell 19, Ballarat 10 (Viitala 4).

BLOCKS – Camberwell 3, Ballarat 3.

STEALS – Camberwell 10, Ballarat 5.

TURNOVERS – Camberwell 19, Ballarat 28. 

SHOOTING – field goals, Camberwell 39-88 (44.3%), Ballarat 20-69 (29%); three-pointers, Camberwell 8-31 (25.3%), Ballarat 3-22 (13.6%); free throws, Camberwell 7-12 (58.3%), Ballarat 19-27 (70.4%).

COBURG 18 36 59 91

BALLARAT 21 55 69 75

POINTS – Ballarat: L Viitala 23 (2), J Reeves 21 (4), J Campbell 7, Z Severino 7, L Campbell 6, D Tilley 3 (1), J Asiedu 3, J West 2, M Harvey 2, J Hallett 1.

REBOUNDS – Coburg 56, Ballarat 46 (Viitala 12, Reeves 8).

ASSISTS – Coburg 18, Ballarat 11 (Viitala 4).

BLOCKS – Coburg 3, Ballarat 3.

STEALS – Coburg 5, Ballarat 2.

TURNOVERS – Coburg 19, Ballarat 23.

SHOOTING – field goals, Coburg 31-86 (36%), Ballarat 28-75 (37.3%); three-pointers, Coburg 11-30 (36.7%), Ballarat 7-22 (31.8%); free throws, Coburg 18-34 (52.9%), Ballarat 12-20 (60%).

LADDER: Sunbury 113.04 percentage points, 100.00; Coburg 102.46, 80.00; Blackburn 115.58, 75.00; Whittlesea 124.08, 66.67; Altona 109.69, 66.67; Werribee 108.04, 60.00; Camberwell 112.50, 50.00; Hume City 90.76, 40.00; Ballarat 85.47, 25.00; Geelong 87.63, 0.00; Keysborough 84.78, 0.00; Bendigo 75.31, 0.00.

NEXT GAME: v Altona at Wendouree Sports and Events Centre on April 8.

melanie.whelan@fairfaxmedia.com.au